Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

On occasion, even the most seasoned projector pro has a technical question about a projector or component. Below is a list of the most commonly asked technical questions we hear from our customers. If your question is not covered in this section, please feel free to give us a call at 800-649-9809, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (ET).

Who do I call for assistance with my projector?
You can contact us here for assistance, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (ET).

My image looks noisy and/or the text in my presentation looks distorted.
The best picture is obtained by running your computer source at the same resolution as the projector. For example, an SVGA Projector is 800 X 600 (native resolution) so the computer should be run at 800X600. The computer can run at a higher resolution, for example at 1024 X 768, but the projector will then have to compress the image and it will lose some detail. Many projectors excel compressing images, but small, fine details like small lettering may appear blurry or distorted.

My projector powers off by itself after only five minutes.
Many projectors have a "Power Off" feature that allows users to preserve lamp life. If this feature is turned on, the projector will power down if no signal is received for five (5) minutes, or the specified default time period. To eliminate this issue, disable the feature.

I am showing a presentation from my laptop and my projector dropped the signal after only a few minutes. This tends to occur if you are running your laptop off its battery pack. In an effort to preserve power, the laptop will disable any unneeded hardware, such as your projector. To avoid this, plug your laptop's power cord and restart your laptop.

Lamp Life — How many hours will a lamp last?
Lamp life varies by manufacturer and projector type. Lamp life also depends on the projector's environment: air flow, clean air, and also on the level of usage. Check the user's manual or specification pages for your projector to determine the exact lamp life.

Where can I get a replacement lamp?
You can contact us here or refer to your projector's user's manual for more information.

Scrambled Picture — Possible remedies:
If you are using a laptop computer, try turning off the laptop screen. Some equipment combinations will not facilitate the simultaneous display from your laptop and the projector. Consult your computer's manual for the proper way to do this.